BOBSLEIGH DREAM SETS THE TONE IN TIPP CUP SECOND ROUND

Peter Farrell

After the weather forced the Centenary Tipperary Cup to be put on hold last Saturday night, the second round action finally got underway at Thurles Park and although there were to be a few upsets throughout the heats, there were no shocks about the performance of Bobsleigh Dream as she made every yard to go quickest of the four heats on offer.

Trained by Pat Buckley for Willie Joe Murphy, Bobsleigh Dream boasts immense pace and after she returned from the UK with a more than satisfactory performance in round one, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Bobsleigh Jet was to make no mistakes last night as she ran out a comfortable winner of heat two. A 7/4 chance at the off, Bobsleigh Dream was the first head to show from trap three and she displayed brilliant early gears to take a commanding lead into the opening corner where she was chased by Irelands Own in second. Setting a blistering gallop down the back, Irelands Own was running a superb race in second and was making inroads into the Bobsleigh Dream’s four length lead midway down the back straight. However, the Tralee track record holder was entering her strongest phase of the contest and she kicked on once more off the final turn to emerge a comfortable winner. Crossing the line with three lengths in hand over Irelands Own in second, the final qualifying position saw Group Ranger finish at speed, just a head further back in third. The time was a fast 29.06 .20s.

DOMINANT SYD

Next best on the clock came in the opening heat of the night as Tour Valley Syd emerged a shock winner as the fancied Magical Benji and Gortkelly Nestor made their exits from the competition.

Owned by William O’Connor, Tour Valley Syd was installed a 4/1 shot prior to the off and his chances of going one better than his opening round second were enhanced early doors as he broke smartly from trap five, before showing blistering early speed to lead into the opening corner. Holding a two length lead over Private Jet at this point, the son of Droopys Sydney and Yahoo Amelia extended this advantage to four lengths rounding the bottom two bends and he looked certain to run out a comfortable winner thereafter. However, after Rockybay Rusty produced some outstanding running to move second, Tour Valley Syd was forced to pull out all the stops late on to emerge a one and a half length winner over his fast-finishing rival. The final qualifying position was claimed by Private Jet in third, and the time was a slick 29.17 .20s.

CILLA IN CHARGE

The final heat of the night was dubbed as a match race between Skywalker Cilla and Lynchy Boy but it was the former who emerged victorious in a race where the lead changed hands on three occasions.

A 5/4 chance at the off, Skywalker Cilla came away well from trap four but it was Cabra Cleo who took her customary flier from five to head the field on the run to the opener. However, Bartlemy Jas was to benefit from the inside line at this point and it was Kieran Lynch’s black who held a slender lead over Skywalker Cilla, who was now looming large just one length adrift in second place. Displaying her brilliant back straight dash, Skywalker Cilla quickly asserted midway down the back and the Michael O’Donovan-trained talent stormed to the front with the result all but sealed rounding the penultimate turn. Staying on strongly thereafter, the daughter of Laughil Blake and Droopys Zero maintained her unbeaten run in the stake as she powered to a three and a half length victory over Bartlemy Jas in second. The time was 29.25 .20s as Cabra Cleo claimed the final qualification spot in third.

SPEEDSTER NATE COMES OUT ON TOP

The remaining second round heat went the way of the Chris Houlihan-trained Seomra Nate as showed a different thread to his bow in coming from off-the-pace to score.

Owned by Patrick O’Connell, Seomra Nate went to traps as the 5/4 favourite and he trapped much slicker this time around to clock a 1.66 sectional early on. However, it wasn’t enough to lead Russmur Pat in three and it was the latter who matched his rival to the opening turn and took a slender lead at this point. The lead was short-lived, however, as Seomra Nate ran a terrific second bend to take control and he showed brilliant middle pace, which ultimately proved the key to maintaining his unbeaten record in the stake. Staying on well close home, Seomra Nate saw off Russmur Pat by half a length, while Berties Cuddles was just one and a half lengths further back in third. The time was 29.31 .20s.